WVU’s beloved 60,000-seat Milan Puskar Stadium has undergone a $55 million modernization over the past two years, scheduled to be done in time for the first home game of the season, September 9 against the East Carolina Pirates. Work was completed on the east side in 2016, and now fans who sit on the west side will enjoy the same upgrades: a more spacious concourse, better traffic flow, bigger concession stands with high-top tables and flat screen televisions, more restrooms, and phone chargers. “It should really help alleviate some of the space crunch and lines and things like that that fans have had to deal with in the past,” says Senior Associate Athletic Director Matt Wells. “This will really improve the experience for fans.”

A new high-definition video board is also going in on the north end of the stadium, above the Touchdown Terrace suite. “Now every fan in the stadium will be able to view the video board and replays,” Wells says.

Clear bag policy
WVU is joining most Big 12 and Power Five conference schools this season in adopting the NFL’s clear bag policy for all ticketed events. Fans are limited to one clear bag—a one-gallon freezer bag or similar-sized bag—and one 4.5″ x 6.5″ clutch for privacy. Cameras and binoculars may be taken into the stadium, though not their cases. Keys, wallets, makeup and other small items may be carried in pockets or in a clutch or clear bag.

Pavement Party!There’s nothing like a good tailgate for getting into the game day spirit. Neighborly, rowdy, sober, nerdy—these days, there’s a parking lot atmosphere to suit any taste. This will get you started.

Blue Lot
Sprawling across the large lot north of Milan Puskar Stadium and in front of WVU’s Ruby Memorial Hospital, the Blue Lot is Tailgate Central, with food and drink sales, music, cornhole, and general game day mayhem. Medical Center is the nearest PRT station.

Other lots
Tailgating at other WVU lots centers more on parkers and their friends and less on food concessions. Visiting fans looking for season permit parking can call the Mountaineer Athletic Club at 304.293.2294. For tailgating atmosphere, the Light Blue Lot, beside the Blue Lot in a smaller space northeast of the stadium, is more family-oriented. The Brown Lot, behind the College of Law and high above the stadium, gives panoramic views of the action below and less traffic in and out. The Green Lot, on Van Voorhis Road in front of Mountaineer Station, offers single-game parking for a fee, as do the Gold, Burgundy, and Purple lots. The Coliseum lot offers free parking and is close enough to walk to the game, but you can also catch a shuttle bus to the stadium round-trip for $4.50. Medical Center PRT for all these lots except the Coliseum—Engineering is the nearest PRT station for that.

Student lot
Held in the University Park courtyard, this alcohol-free tailgate features free food, music, guest appearances, and giveaways. The festivities start three hours before kickoff and end 30 minutes before kickoff. A student ID gets you and one guest in.

Organization tailgates
Lots of campus organizations host tailgates one or more times through the season. Check individual organizations’ websites or Facebook pages for schedules and locations.

Off-campus tailgates
Pregame fun can happen anywhere. If friends or family are visiting, their hotel may host a tailgate—the Holiday Inn on Pineview Drive, for example, offers guests a catered tailgate with shuttle service to and from the stadium.

WVU lots open at 7 a.m. Pets must be leashed and tended to. Recycling bags are provided in some lots—recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel, plastics #1–7, and glass. Discard food waste, styrofoam, plastic bags, and and napkins in trash receptacles.